[AdCo]

<p>So, I did a 10 miler his weekend - Race, but no RR will come, it was uneventful.  Anyway, I didn't "hydrate or eat carefully the night before." I didn't stress about being there early, I didn't worry about my time, I just showed up, got my crap, BS'ed with some people and Ran.  Have you guys found that happens to you? Sure I used to freak at every race, but other than parking, I just don't seem to "care" about 95% of my races.. Sure, the big ones or when I have real crazy goals, but overall, it's just a "run" or "race" or "bike" or whatever.. does this mean I need to get back to a GOAL, or to something bigger? </p>

 

[MountainGirl]

<p>I dunno, sounds a lot like me.  I prefer to think of it as being well balanced.  I think it's kinda crazy to obsess over every race but I'm not the super competetive type. It also takes a lot of the fun out of it IMHO.  However I do find that I need one or two events a year to put the fear of God in me <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/shock.gif" style="width:15px;height:15px;" title="">    Maybe that's just what the doctor ordered.</p>

 

[MBannon]

<p>First race or two of the year (triathlon, anyway) I usually have some pretty good nerves going.  By the last race of the season it's a miracle that I don't forget something important like my bike - it's just a hard workout that I have to get up stupid early for and drive to.  Nothing to get in a tizzy about.</p>
<p> </p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p>You can't treat every race like an "A" race, as I found out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Since Eugene earlier this year, pretty much all my races have been like you described, which is refreshing in that I didn't get the usual pre-race nervous energy that kept my sleep to a minimum and I ran relaxed and free (even knocked off a PR or two as well.) </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I figured the drift time between now and the next serious goal would be good, so maybe it's time to start thinking about that proverbial next big thing to shoot for for you.</p>

 

[Tri_coach06]

<p>You're an Ironman. I doubt any race will ever meet the hype and expectation of the first time IM. The training and and time focused is monumental. The way out is to find a race that puts the fear back into training. When you go to the race with the aspect of I can do this without training, the race becomes just another day, Set a goal, train for that goal. Sub 20 5k, or sub 45 10k.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When you're standing on the line with a PR in mind, the race takes on a whole new meaning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>CS</p>
<p> </p>

 

[AdCo]

<p>He's ALIVE!!! <img alt="smile.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//smile.gif"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>yeah, just curious if other feel that way. I isn't really my IM, it's just I think I can do anything for x hours now... <br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Tri_coach06</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71052/sort-of-ot-ever-notice-it-s-not-as-scary#post_1961057"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>You're an Ironman. I doubt any race will ever meet the hype and expectation of the first time IM. The training and and time focused is monumental. The way out is to find a race that puts the fear back into training. When you go to the race with the aspect of I can do this without training, the race becomes just another day, Set a goal, train for that goal. Sub 20 5k, or sub 45 10k.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When you're standing on the line with a PR in mind, the race takes on a whole new meaning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>CS</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[mrscoby78]

<p><br>
This is pretty much how I felt at Quincy last year.  I was on vacation.  I wasn't trained.  It didn't matter.  I ate a ridulous amount of Cohen's homemade pizza the night before.  I had no real time goal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And I ran a 6 minute PR.<br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>AdCo</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71052/sort-of-ot-ever-notice-it-s-not-as-scary#post_1961034"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>So, I did a 10 miler his weekend - Race, but no RR will come, it was uneventful.  Anyway, I didn't "hydrate or eat carefully the night before." I didn't stress about being there early, I didn't worry about my time, I just showed up, got my crap, BS'ed with some people and Ran.  Have you guys found that happens to you? Sure I used to freak at every race, but other than parking, I just don't seem to "care" about 95% of my races.. Sure, the big ones or when I have real crazy goals, but overall, it's just a "run" or "race" or "bike" or whatever.. does this mean I need to get back to a GOAL, or to something bigger? </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[hobey]

<p>Tis just another training day. Actually sounds a lot like my last year, my play year. It left me feeling refreshed & recharged and ready to tackle the next big thing.</p>

 

[AdCo]

<p>Obviously you fueled perfectly and was paced correctly.. sheesh.. <br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>mrscoby78</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71052/sort-of-ot-ever-notice-it-s-not-as-scary#post_1961066"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p><br>
This is pretty much how I felt at Quincy last year.  I was on vacation.  I wasn't trained.  It didn't matter.  I ate a ridulous amount of Cohen's homemade pizza the night before.  I had no real time goal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And I ran a 6 minute PR.<br>
 </p>
<br>
 </div>
</div>

 

[Thor]

<p>This is no surprise for most here who have followed you since Lake Placid. You are still in the hangover aftermath stage of IM. It happens. You just have let yours last longer than some others. It's not a big deal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Nerves and not "caring," if I read that right, are, in my opinion, two different things. They sometimes mix, and maybe this is the case for you. Just because you care (or do not care) about a race does not necessarily mean that you will be (or not be) nervous. If you heard me at all talk about my recent "epic journey" in the 50 Mile Ultra Marathon, you would know that this was the first race since Ironman Coeur d'Alene in 2007 that I got really nervous over. Every race since then but for maybe one or two when I got a trace of nerves, I didn't get nervous or the pre-race or even taper crazies. I trained well, knew what to expect, and was ready to take it on.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So hearing that you "didn't care" about the race told me far more than the fact that there were no nerves. Nerves are merely a symptom of caring or not, of expectations and preparations. Not caring is a sign of burn out, monotony, lack of goals, or general fatigue.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In order to care again, I think you need to start training with purpose again. That's when races matter, because they are tests of your level of fitness, a snap of the line, of what you have built over the past training season or weeks.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That you even ask, "Do I need goals?" tells me that you are still stuck with an IM hangover. Otherwise you wouldn't ask. You would just be doing... races, training sessions, etc. So if that's where you want to be, then yeah, you need goals but you also need to commit to something. And it is hard -- very hard -- after completing something like Ironman. Trust me, I've been there. Figure out a fun challenge, be it a new one or even just beating the horse dead a little faster, and submerse yourself. Because if you're still wondering about goals and sitting there without any, then it tells me that you need something new or you are still a bit fried from all the Iron horse shit. (I say that affectionately.)</p>

 

[mrscoby78]

<p><img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/love5.gif" style="width:28px;height:41px;" title=""><br><br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>AdCo</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/71052/sort-of-ot-ever-notice-it-s-not-as-scary#post_1961073"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Obviously you fueled perfectly and was paced correctly.. sheesh.. <br>
 </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[4boysmom]

<p>I think I"ve gotten to that point.  At the start of this season I was stressing out as I was going for a championship.  Stressing out about every race.  And then I bombed two races.  Screw it.  The following weekend, I ran a HM just for the hell of it.  Had a GREAT visit with friends the night before.  Ran the race just to do it.  Tough course, so no PR.  Whatever.  It just felt good to be out there.  Almost bailed on the rst fo the tri season, but since son1 was racing and I'd be taking him, what the hell, I might as well do it anyway.  Knocked out some decent races but not where I wanted to be.  Whatever.  I ended up winning the championship anyway.  Go figure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I couple weeks ago I had an A race.--Inland Trail Marathon.  I went into it perfectly trained.   I should have BQed easily.  If only the weather would have cooperated.  Needless to say, the BQ didn't happen.  Yah, I was bummed.  But, at church tht evening when people asked, I just said that I didn't have the race I wanted, but I was okay with it.  And you know what?  I was.</p>